Cooks, Restaurant salary in Colorado
Cooks, Restaurant in Colorado earn a median of $41,600 a year ($20.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 30,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,650 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $37,390. Colorado ranks 10th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 11 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,590 | $16.63 |
| 25th percentile | $36,930 | $17.76 |
| Median | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 75th percentile | $45,740 | $21.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Average (mean) | $42,360 | $20.37 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,466.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,733.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,600 |
| Weekly | $800 |
| Hourly | $20.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,370 | 15,410 |
| Boulder, CO | $42,220 | 2,190 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $38,370 | 1,930 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $38,000 | 3,330 |
| Greeley, CO | $36,900 | 1,000 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $36,420 | 690 |
| Pueblo, CO | $35,920 | 580 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| Bartender | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Dishwasher | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,400 | $31.44 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Colorado?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Colorado is $41,600 a year, or $20.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Colorado?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Colorado earn at least $49,650 a year. The top 25% earn $45,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,590 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,930 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Colorado?
About 30,600 cooks, restaurant are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.